RECAP

ORLANDO – For everything the Clippers did wrong defensively in the first half Wednesday night at Amway Center, it was reversed three possessions into the third quarter.

Trailing by 19 points and looking somewhat lethargic at times in the early going against the youthful Orlando Magic, the Clippers put together by far their most impressive stretch of defense in the young season to turn the game around. It just wasn’t enough to overcome the way they started.

After the Clippers briefly took control, Orlando scored 12 of the game’s final 16 points to beat the Clippers, 98-90, halting L.A.’s three-game winning streak.

“We expended a lot of energy coming back,” said Jamal Crawford, who finished with 14 points and produced the only field goals off the Clipper bench. “Obviously, you can’t spot any team in the NBA [19] points. I mean, you can, you may get a lead, but eventually it’s going to catch up to you.”

And it did.

Despite Blake Griffin’s 23 points and 13 rebounds, Chris Paul’s 18 points, 10 assists and five rebounds, and DeAndre Jordan’s nine points and 19 boards, the Clippers (3-2) were far too porous on the defensive end and missed too many makeable shots to open their three-game road trip with a victory.

“I just thought they played so much harder than us in the first half,” Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought we were very casual in our approach tonight and that’s me. I’ve always got to get them ready. I didn’t.”

The Magic (3-2) shot 55.3 percent in the first half, and stretched their lead to 61-42 after back-to-back hoops at the start of the third quarter. That’s when the Clippers got back in the game around with their defense.

“I thought we came out of halftime and we were a different basketball team,” Rivers added. “What we did prove was that we can defend. Part of the 98 points we gave them was because we had to foul [at the end].”

The spurt started with three-straight stops and the Clippers proceeded to go on a 29-5 run. They took their first lead at 67-66 after a Griffin steal created a baseline jumper for J.J. Redick, who was playing his second game in Orlando since being traded by the Magic in February. Another Griffin steal produced a Jared Dudley layup, and led to a timeout by Magic head coach Jacque Vaughn.

The plays were befitting of the entire stretch, while Griffin, Redick and Paul did most of the damage on the scoreboard, it was fueled by defense. The Clippers cut off the Magic’s driving lanes, made shooters uncomfortable, and were able to temporarily slow Nikola Vucevic, who still finished with a game-high 31 points and 21 rebounds.

Asked what changed after halftime, Rivers offered a candid response.

“Effort,” he said. “That’s it. There were no adjustments. We didn’t make one single adjustment at halftime. We just played harder. We played with better focus. We played as a group instead of individually trying to make up our defense.”

Still, the Magic refused to go away. They erased a six-point Clippers lead and two E’Twaun Moore 3-pointers in three fourth-quarter possessions gave them a lead they would eventually hang on to. After Griffin connected on a 19-footer to give the Clippers an 89-88 lead, Arron Afflalo answered with a turnaround jumper over Dudley.

The Clippers would go on to miss their final five shots and commit a costly turnover. Trailing by three, Paul threw a bounce pass to Griffin that appeared slightly low and was mishandled. “I just bounced it and threw a bad pass to Blake,” Paul said. “It’s a turnover, a big play.”

Thirty-three seconds later, Redick had a chance to tie the game with an open 3-pointer from the right wing that rimmed out.

“We didn’t call a timeout because I wanted to save it,” Rivers said. “We pushed the ball up the floor and got J.J. a three. So, to me, it’s like the Basketball Gods. If you don’t play hard all game, I’m not rewarding you. You’re not winning this game. It’s like the Basketball Gods punished us for not being ready to play all game.”

“A lot of credit goes to them,” Paul lamented. “They executed and made us guard them and once again our defense failed us.”

NOTES

Matt Barnes (right thigh contusion) did not play… Orlando shot 55.3 percent, had a 32-12 advantage in the paint and forced 10 Clippers turnovers in the first half… The Clippers have played 22 quarters and allowed 28 points or more in nine of them… Former Clippers forward and Orlando resident, Grant Hill, was in attendance… Outside of a technical free throw by Crawford, the Clippers did not get to line until 9:00 in the second quarter… Crawford, Griffin and Paul scored 32 of the first 42 points for the Clippers… In the last four games, Griffin has finished with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds in three of them… Paul has a double-double in all five games this season…

QUOTES

Clippers forward Blake Griffin on the team's energy:

“I felt like we learned our lesson against the Lakers in our season opener. But it is kind of the same way where we just kind of showed up. Every once in a while it is good to have something like this where it makes you realize you can’t just relax and just rely on offense or defense. You have to play a full game and you can’t take anyone lightly.”

Clippers guard Jamal Crawford on whether or not the Clippers were looking ahead to the Miami Heat game on Thursday:

“No, I don’t think so. Coach said that, almost before the Laker game, ‘This team’s a dangerous team. You can’t play around with them.’ They had Brooklyn down. They came back and won against [New Orleans]. They’re a dangerous team and we didn’t underestimate them at tall. They were the aggressors and they were the scrappier team and they deserved to win.”

Clippers head coach Doc Rivers on the team's need for a defensive mentality:

“You win games. You score 100 and whatever points, but that’s always fool’s gold. Offense is always fool’s gold. You’ve got to defend to win. The good part about tonight was that was proven. We started getting stops and all of a sudden we started scoring. It’s very difficult to run if you’re taking the ball out of bounds every single time.”

Magic guard Jameer Nelson on withstanding the Clippers' run in the third quarter:

The thing is, I think it’s more important that we took the blow that they gave us. They came out in the third and pretty much had their way. Basketball is a game of runs, they made their run and we took the blow. I say we executed well, we stuck to our game plan. Even when they executed against our game plan and was successful, we stuck with what we were supposed to do.”

Clippers guard J.J. Redick on returning to Orlando:

“I am very excited to be in L.A. and playing for Doc and with this group. I was very fortunate with how things worked out during free agency. It is always good to be home in Orlando. I love the fans here. I love the guys in the other locker room. I wanted to beat them tonight but just couldn’t get it done.”

PHOTOS

NOTES

• RECORD NIGHT: The Clippers matched a L.A. Clippers record for most points in a single half by scoring 78 in the opening

24 minutes against the Houston Rockets on Nov. 4, matching the 78-point second half against the Toronto Raptors on Mar.

13, 2009. They also attempted a franchise-record 38 3-pointers in the 137-118 victory and became the first Clippers team to score 137 points or more since the 2008-09 team had 140 against the Knicks.

• 23-10 CLUB: Chris Paul had 23 points with 17 assists in the Nov. 4 win over the Rockets. It is Paul’s third game in a row with at least 23 points and 10 assists. He is just the sixth player in the NBA since 2008-09 to do so at least three times. MOST CONSECUTIVE GAMES WITH 23+ POINTS, 10+ ASSISTS (Since 2008-09)

Russell Westbrook 4

Steve Nash 4

Chris Paul 3*

Dwyane Wade 3

LeBron James 3

Tony Parker 3

*Denotes active streak

• HIGH-SCORING START: The Clippers beat the Houston Rockets, 137-118, on Nov. 4, marking the fourth-straight game they have scored 103 points or more in a game to start the season. Their 119 points per game average is the most by the team in the first four games of a season in franchise history. The1976-77 Buffalo Braves scored 112.5 points per game from Oct. 21-28. The Clippers last topped 103 points in a season’s first four games in the opening week of the 1985-86 season.

• I SEE YOUR 10 AND RAISE YOU 20: Blake Griffin had 20 points and 17 rebounds against the Kings on Nov. 1, marking his second of two games in the 2013-14 season with at least 20 points and 10 rebounds. Since his rookie season (2010-11), Griffin is tied for second in the NBA in 20-10 games with 92.

MOST 20+ POINT, 10+ REBOUND GAMES IN NBA (Since 2010-11)

Dwight Howard, Rockets

93

Blake Griffin, Clippers

92

Kevin Love, Timberwolves

92

David Lee, Warriors

63

LaMarcus Aldridge, Trail Blazers

60

LeBron James, Heat

58

• PASS MASTER CLASSIC: Chris Paul has accumulated 10 or more assists in each of the Clippers’ first four games of the season and did so in the final two games of the 2012-13 regular season. His six-straight games with 10+ assists is the most consecutive games by a Clipper since Gary Grant had 10 or more assists in seven-straight games from Nov. 2-14, 1990.

• TOP SCORER THROUGH FOUR: With 106 points through the Clippers’ first four games, Chris Paul has the sixth most in franchise history to start a season. He trails Derek Smith’s 111 points for the most in L.A. Clippers history. Note: World B. Free holds the franchise record for most points after five games as well, starting the 1979-80 season with 178 points after five games.

CLIPPERS MOST POINTS IN FIRST FOUR GAMES (Since 1970-71)

1979-80 World B. Free

137

1975-76 Bob McAdoo

119

1985-86 Derek Smith

111

1974-75 Bob McAdoo

110

1973-74 Bob McAdoo

107

2012-13 Chris Paul

106

• THEY’RE STILL STREAKING AT HOME: The 137-118 win over the Houston Rockets on Nov. 4 at Staples Center was the sixth victory in a row for the Clippers at home dating back to Apr. 3, 2013. Last season the team set the franchise record by winning 13 games in a row on their home floor.

• HELPING HAND: Led by Chris Paul’s 53 assists, the Clippers are averaging nearly seven assists for every 10 made field goals, which ranks third in the NBA.The Clipppers have assisted on 113 out of their 167 made field goals in four games.

PERCENTAGE OFASSISTS PER MADE FIELD (Through Nov. 4)

Miami Heat

.757 (112/148)

Golden State Warriors

.699 (116/166)

LosAngeles Clippers

.677 (113/167)

MinnesotaTimberwolves

.639 (92/144)

•SELLOUTSTREAK:TheClippersareinthemidstofa96-gameselloutstreakatStaplesCenter...TheClippershavesold out every regular season and Playoff game at STAPLES Center since Feb. 2, 2011.

•JUSTWHATTHEDOCTORORDERED:DocRiversis3-1asheadcoachoftheClippers.HeisthefirstClipperscoachto win three of his first four games to start a season. Larry Brown got off to a franchise-best 4-0 start in his first three games. Brown’s tenure with the Clippers on Feb. 12, 1992 and won his first five games.

2011) at the center positionfor the Clippers.It is the franchiserecordfor starts at the positionandlongestactivestreak in the NBA.According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Michael Olowokandi previously held the mark of 123-straight starts (March

•ASCENDINGON3-POINTLIST:JamalCrawfordwent6-for-11from3-pointrangeagainsttheRocketsonNov.4,passing EddieJonesforNo.15inNBAhistoryinshotsmadefrom3-pointrange.Crawfordis14-for-27(51.9percent)ontheseason and has 1,550 3-pointers in his career. He is also 11 3-pointers away from leaping No. 14 Glen Rice (1,559).

•HARDWOODROBBERY:TheClippersstartedtheseasonwithmorethan10stealsineachoftheirfirsttwogames,con- tinuingatrendfromlastseason.AlthoughtheyhadjustfourstealsintheirNov.1winovertheKings,theystillhavethemost games in the league with 10 or more steals since the start of last season.

MOST GAMES WITH 10+ STEALS (Since 2012-13)

LosAngeles Clippers

43

Denver Nuggets

38

Miami Heat

34

Milwaukee Bucks

32

Memphis Grizzlies

31

•EDGEONTHEGLASS:TheClippersowneda39-35reboundingedgeagainsttheKingsonNov.1.Datingbacktolast season, the Clippers are 40-10 (.800) when they grab more rebounds than their opponent.

PREGAME

The Clippers are 3-1 on the season, all in California, and both will change as the team embarks on their first long-distance road trip of the 2013-14 campaign.

DeAndre Jordan talked about the three-game stint away from Staples Center after the Clippers’ 137-118 victory over the Houston Rockets.

“It’ll be good,” Jordan said. “It’s our first huge road trip and there’s definitely going to be some tests. Playing against a young, athletic running Orlando team, then back-to-back champions (Miami Heat), and then we’ve got to go back and play [Houston] again. These are all games that we can win.”

The Orlando Magic (2-2) present the initial test Jordan was eluding to. After two-straight losses to open the season, the Magic bounced back to win their next two. Both victories took place at the Amway Center, the site of Tuesday’s game.

NOTEWORTHY MATCHUP

J.J. Redick vs. Arron Afflalo

J.J. Redick and Arron Afflalo can relate to each other’s current situation. Redick obviously knows what it’s like to be the starting shooting guard for the Magic after playing seven years in Orlando. Afflalo knows what it’s like to be in Los Angeles because he was born and raised in the city and played collegiately at UCLA.

The two will go head-to-head nearly every possession. Both are off to fast starts this season. Afflalo comes in averaging 20.8 points per game, 5.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists. Redick boasts 17.3 points per game, 2.5 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

The major difference between Redick and Afflalo is their respective roles. Redick is one of many pieces to the Clippers offense. Conversely, Afllalo has arguably become the go-to option in the Magic attack.

THINGS TO WATCH

1. Pace. The high-tempo theme from the Clippers-Rockets shootout could be on display again. Doc Rivers was asked about the pace following the game and he didn’t seem concerned.

“It’s not like we’re just running, we’re running into a set,” Rivers said. “You can see the second actions. I thought we scored a lot on the pick and roll, the swing, the pin down and the spacing. It’s good because you can run that slow or fast.”

The Magic are the fifth youngest team in the NBA (excluding injured Hedo Turkoglu) and prefer to get out into the open court. The No. 2 overall pick from Indiana, Victor Oladipo, headlines the speedy group. Despite coming off the bench, Oladipo is averaging 13.8 points, 5.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists and entered the season as an early Rookie of the Year favorite.

Playing against the Magic’s young blood presents an interesting challenge for the Clippers. Most opponents attempt to slow the game down against the Clippers to avoid highlight reel dunks. The Magic may elect to buck the trend and compete in the track meet.

2. Defense better than it looks. From the box score and statistics standpoint, the Clippers defense is not off to the best start. The team has surrendered 112.5 points per game, ranking last in the league. Rivers and Chris Paul believe some of those numbers are somewhat deceiving.

“I think our defense is pretty good,” Rivers said. “It’s what [is getting] our leads, [but] then we break down. I thought early on we were scoring and getting stops, scoring and getting stops, and right now it seems when we get that lead, we kind of break down in our focus. We have to be a better defensive team.”

“It’s funny, we haven’t held a team under 100 [points] in four games, and I promise our defense is better than it looks. I think what has to be better is our transition defense,” Paul said. “If you at us now, we get back and actually get set. We rely on our principles, but it’s about spits. It’s a process, although it’s nice to learn through wins.”

3. No letdown. Focusing solely on the Magic will be tough, as the trip’s marquee matchup against Miami Heat is only one day away. The Clippers have to keep their focus on Orlando. The Magic just dominated the highly-touted Brooklyn Nets 107-86, which shows they are capable of surprises on any given night.

NOTES

The Clippers are on a three-game winning streak, while Magic have prevailed in their previous two games… Paul has the opportunity to become the third player since 2008-09 to post 23-plus points and 10-plus assists in four consecutive games… Ryan Hollins and Afflalo were college teammates at UCLA from 2004-2006… Paul, Jamal Crawford and Afflalo all finished in the top 15 in free throw percentage during the 2012-13 season… The Clippers and Magic both ranked inside the top ten in assists per game at the end of the 2012-13 season… Blake Griffin has had 92 games of tallying 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds since 2010-11, one shy of Dwight Howard for the league lead in that span… The Clippers and Magic spilt the 2012-13 series at one win apiece….

THEY SAID IT

Doc Rivers: “Orlando is playing great. They beat Brooklyn and New Orleans back-to-back and Miami is Miami and Houston is Houston, so it’s a hard trip. That’s the way they’re all going to be.”